Ice, Ice, Baby

The mercury is rising and that familiar sweaty, squinty, sticky look that is reserved for the summer months is back with a vengeance. There are lots of ways to keep cool this summer, Europeans for example like to wear no clothes, but for the less adventurous it’s the perfect time to indulge you and your family in some ice cool goodness and I am not talking beer flavoured slurpees. Without further ado here are three fantastic recipes that I often turn to for instant relief on those hot days. They are all very easy to make, child friendly and cheap -win, win, win! Due to the amount of sucking, slurping and licking of fingers that these recipes will require I am going to ask that you read them in the style of that sultry temptress or pain in the arse, you decide, Nigella Lawson.

Banana Choc Thick Shake

Three ingredients is all you need for this one folks! 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, 1 frozen banana and 350 mls of milk. I discovered this recipe when I had a glut of bananas that were more brown than yellow. I peeled them, broke them into pieces and stored them in a bag in the freezer, I think I was just hiding them to be honest. I blitzed one up in a blender with some milk and I was transported to American diner thick shake heaven! There must be something scientific going on and I can’t actually be bothered to check what it might be BUT the freezing process makes the shake very thick and very creamy. As a self confessed Chocaholic I naturally add cocoa powder and it pays off in a big way. I sometimes tweak it with a little cinnamon or honey but its all about the freezing! Add a straw and suck like you know Nigella would. Max often has it for desert and its my go to breakfast on the go.

Mint and Lemon Iced Tea

After getting sucked into Melbourne’s coffee habit I have been dabbling in a bit of tea of late and very nice it is too. Tea and sweat don’t go we’ll together though so I came up with this recipe to cool the whole situation down and Max loves it! Brew some mint tea (enough for a jug), add fresh mint if you have any kicking around, add a chopped lemon and honey to taste  – I like to get a real hit of citrus in mine. Leave the whole concoction to get to know each other and then strain it into glasses, add enough ice to give you brain freeze and slurp like Nigella. If your little’un is having trouble sleeping whack some camomile tea in their too, put it in their pre-bed bottle and bam! Other worthy ingredients include, orange, apple juice and ginger.

Fruit Icy Pole

Nothing particularly novel about this one, but again it’s quick, cheap and healthy so it’s worthy of a shout. If I have time I like to go to the market and stock up on juicy fruit but alternatively you can just buy a good juice and that works just aswell. Flavour combos I keep coming back to are apple, mint and ginger or pear, apple and lime. But its all down to what works for you and yours and having a little bit of experimentation with the kids, before you know it your engaged in wholesome Nigella-like bonding with your children, I’m sure she’s not like that off camera! Pour the juice into the moulds (you can pick them up in £2 Shops or cooking stores if your rich) and place in the freezer. Don’t fall into the trap of watering them down, more science at play here, it seems to crystalize the lollies and they become brittle. Max loses his shit now when I go anywhere near the freezer. 

There you have it folks three easy peasy recipes guaranteed to put the chill in your children this summer.